Take full view in Saint Pierre and Miquelon

The Langlade and Miquelon peninsulas are only connected by a thin strip of earth and sand. A small road runs along the beach, with the ocean on each side. You can see mountains rising in the background, in the mist. For a few minutes, the time to cross the isthmus, you feel alone in the world, the only sound being the waves.

A small, well-marked hiking trail starts at the Frecker pond and crosses streams and peat bogs until the Grand Colombier appears, on the northern tip of Saint Pierre. In season, the peak welcomes thousands of migratory birds.

It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful hikes in the archipelago. Miquelon Cape offers a variety of rich and condensed landscapes: after crossing peat bogs and moors, let yourself be engulfed by the boreal forest and its twisted trees.

Close to Pointe aux Canons stands the Lighthouse of Saint Pierre. In an archipelago populated by fishermen, where the mist can quickly divert you from your path and the sea can be cruel, the lighthouse is an essential landmark. Today, the wooden building is also one of the characteristic monuments of the archipelago.

From the Diamant, look at the houses of Savoyard, the new district that allows the city of Saint Pierre to expand a little. It is a day of stormy weather—the island is covered by the mist. A light drizzle is falling. The Diamant is a boardwalk appreciated by the residents of Saint Pierre, but today, not surprisingly, you would not see anyone. This weather is perfect to stay inside and drink hot chocolate, and yet watching the clouds dance with the mountains is fascinating. The mist is particularly photogenic here.

An island-wide folktale, the residents of Saint Pierre will gladly tell you the story of this shipwreck, and how the first jukebox arrived in Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Indeed, the freighter was trapped by the mist and a stone bank. The ship, stuck not far from the coast, was then emptied before being burned (to avoid pollution of the surrounding waters). From the cargo ship, only the rusty nose remains carried by the waves to a small bay on Île aux Marins.

Île aux Marins is a must-see visit in Saint Pierre and Miquelon. The beautiful colorful houses bear witness to the glorious past of the site. Today, the island is no more than a place for vacationing and walking, but 600 people lived there at the end of the 19th century, during the heyday of cod fishing. Then, it was a large port and the island was very busy. Several of the houses on the island are listed as must-see sights, full of history.

During your stay, you can follow a little ritual: get up at dawn and climb the hills overlooking Saint Pierre to admire the sunrise over the city. One morning, you can try another point of view and go to see the lighthouse, to compare the "aube" from each vantage. Our conclusion: the most beautiful sunrise is up there, by the lighthouse. You can see the city, still asleep, slowly waking up while the sun appears behind Île aux Marins. It is also the best place to see how compact the city of Saint Pierre is, built between the ocean and the mountains. A road leads to the belvedere of Anse à Pierre, but to fully enjoy the view, nothing beats the small paths that go up the hill to the summit.